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Six fire engines, and around thirty firefighters were called to a fire at a block of flats on Laymarsh Close in Belvedere on Saturday 27th February. Two flats on the third floor were completely destroyed, and part of the roof was taken off by the blaze. Fire crews managed to stop the fire from spreading to the remaining properties in strong wind conditions.
Twenty people left the building before the Brigade arrived.
The Brigade was called at just after 10 and the fire was under control by 11pm. Firefighters from Erith, Bexley, Plumstead and Greenwich fire stations attended the incident. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
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Slade Green Safer Neighbourhoods Policing team, part of the Slade Green Community Safety Action Zone, was one of eight finalists in the capital’s first Safer London Problem Solving award.
The award, which was won by Southwark for an initiative aimed at reducing street drinking in Camberwell, was presented at a conference at the Queen Elizabeth II conference centre in London on 8 February.
Sergeant McKibbin from the Slade Green team made a presentation to the panel of judges on a problem-solving project which began in 2004. The project had been designed to tackle youth crime and disorder on an estate in Slade Green’s Community Safety Action Zone.
With a range of organisations, including the Safer Neighbourhoods Policing team, Bexley Community Safety Partnership, local housing associations, the youth service and Bexley Council working in partnership alongside residents, the project managed to reduce 87 reports of crime on the estate in 2003 to 47 by the end of 2005, with a reduction in youth-related calls from 43 in 2003 to just 17 by the end of 2005.
A recent survey showed that 93% of residents on the estate felt that the work carried out by all those involved in the process had made the area a better place to live.
The project used a range of initiatives to tackle the problem, from clean-up days on the estate to off-road motorcycle patrols to tackle the illegal use of mini motorbikes and go-peds.
An ASBO was issued to one individual to tackle their persistent anti-social behaviour and many individuals took advantage of the free Victim Support ‘Bobby Van’, which upgraded the security on their homes.
“We are all extremely proud that Sergeant McKibbin and his team reached the final stage for this award,” says Sector Inspector Steve Duffy. “The work that has been carried out in Slade Green is a prime example of what can be achieved when organisations and residents work together in partnership to tackle crime and disorder.”
Cllr Chris Ball, Leader of Bexley Council and Chair of the Bexley Community Safety Partnership adds: “I would like to congratulate the Safer Neighbourhoods Policing team on reaching the finals of this award. It was a great achievement and the results show what hard work and commitment can do. By working in partnership with the community, real changes can be made that have a great impact on the quality of life of residents.
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